Launch of a communications satellite

On December 21, 2018 ISS-Reshetnev Company successfully launched its new communications and broadcasting satellite – Blagovest.

A Proton-M rocket carrying Blagovest got off the ground at 03:20 Moscow time from the Baikonur launch base. Nine hours and two minutes into flight, the satellite was injected into the geostationary orbit on a Briz-M upper stage.

Teams at the ground control center are currently monitoring the satellite, confirming that all its systems perform as designed, mechanical subsystems fully deployed. The satellite is now in the Sun pointing mode.

The Blagovest satellite was built by ISS-Reshetnev Company on its heavy-class Express-2000 platform. The satellite is equipped with a payload that was also designed and produced by the company in-house.